Faithful Through Every High and Low

By Dean Collins

I will bet that many of my readers have gone on a mission trip of some sort. Maybe you went somewhere in the States to help with hurricane relief, or possibly to another country to assist with some health-related or food-scarcity project. If you have gone on a trip or heard the stories of anyone who went, then you have likely heard someone say, “I was so blessed. I think I got more out of it than I gave.” In moments like that, we discover the joy of serving others.

I also would guess that in most cases, the mission trips you may have been on had some elements of difficulty. There were setbacks, resistance, equipment failures, communication challenges, and health issues that may have sprung up within the team. Yet, with all of that, in the end there was a sense of satisfaction and joy because, for some period of time, you felt you were doing something important, something you believed that Jesus wanted you to do.

When you read the 13th and 14th chapters of Acts, you discover that even the apostle Paul had highs and lows while on his first missionary trip. First, in chapter 13, when Paul and Barnabas came to Antioch in Pisidia, the people were so moved by their teaching that they begged Paul and Barnabas to speak again the next week in the synagogue. Wouldn’t you like that response whenever you led a Bible study?

However, no sooner had they received an encouraging response than some of the Jewish leaders who were jealous of their warm welcome began to contradict everything they said! And not only that, but they went to the leading women and men in the city to stir up the people to persecute Paul and Barnabas, and they drove them out of town!

Our response might have been to fight back, but note what Luke tells us that Paul and Barnabas did: “They shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” They let go of the situation, placing it all in God’s hands, and moved on down the road filled with joy.

In Iconium, they spoke in the synagogue and had great success, with many Jews and Greeks believing. But once again, some leaders got angry and this time even planned on stoning them. When they learned of this, they went on to Lystra. And what did they find? Well, it was another mixed response.

Paul healed a crippled man in the name of Jesus, and this time they had a very unusual response. The people thought they were gods!

“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

Paul and Barnabas, of course, quickly directed attention to Jesus and away from themselves. And this time, the opposition from Antioch and Iconium succeeded in stoning Paul and dragging him out of town, believing he was dead.

But this did not discourage these missionaries. Luke tells us that when the disciples gathered around Paul, “he rose up and entered the city.” Think about that for a moment. They had just stoned him and left him for dead, yet Paul got up and went back into the city. The next day, he and Barnabas continued on to Derbe, where they preached the gospel and made many disciples.

But their journey didn’t end there. They returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. And then they said something that gives us a glimpse into how they understood everything they had experienced: “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

Their joy wasn’t the result of everything going well. Their joy came from knowing they were being faithful to Jesus.

I have had a few uncomfortable moments, even frightening ones, while doing mission work, but no one beat me up and left me to die. Had that happened, I hope my faith would have been as strong as Paul’s and Barnabas’s, but I think I might just go home and pick an easier way to serve Jesus. But as I have written before, Jesus said we will have many troubles in this world. Our call is to faithfulness to Jesus in good times and in hard times.

I have heard the testimony of persecuted Christian leaders, and I am struck by how much they sound like Paul and Barnabas. By the power of the Holy Spirit living in them, they discovered the joy of serving Jesus no matter what the difficulty or opposition.

Father, today we celebrate your goodness and faithfulness in preserving your Word so that we can learn the testimonies of our faithful spiritual ancestors. We thank you for the many ways you have brought each of us through tough times. Today we pray that you would strengthen our brothers and sisters who are serving you in the midst of hardships and even persecution. Strengthen them and let them know your presence and feel the joy of being used in kingdom service. Strengthen and prepare those of us who are currently not in seasons of suffering to embrace the opportunities you have given us where we are. We love you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Acts 13, 14 ESV

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